Healthy Spirit – Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is undoubtedly a staple of Shulchan Orech and the Yom Tov seudos. Science backs what your mother has always told you—chicken soup is the Jewish penicillin!

Chicken broth strengthens the immune response to the common cold and can help prevent its spread.

The electrolytes present in chicken soup can rehydrate better than commercial sports drinks.

The vegetables commonly used in chicken soup are high in vitamins and anti-oxidants and help eliminate toxins from the body.

Chicken soup is particularly high in vitamin A and selenium, which support proper thyroid function and aid in new red blood cell production.

Both the steam and salt in the soup thin mucus caused by the common cold, and the heat of the broth dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow to reduce congestion.

Some studies have shown that consuming chicken soup improves the cilia (tiny hairs) in the nose, which can prevent additional germs from entering your body.

Adding pieces of chicken breast to your soup increases protein while keeping fat and calorie counts down.

Studies have shown that chicken soup provides emotional comfort and lifts one’s spirits, helping one feel better mentally, physically and emotionally.